Agreed Payton. Though I couldn't hope for something as grandiose as Frankfurts HSR Station/Hilton/Squaire I was hoping ideally something much more scaled down and modest using a similar format.

Making train travelers traverse a dark ugly parking garage in order to transfer just seems ridiculous. There is no reason the ATS shouldn't end up just alongside or over the Metra Tracks with a quick escalator platform to get from one to the other.

Did you not notice the office towers in the rendering background? There's a fairly strong market for offices around O'Hare; this site is even more attractive because of the quick, free linkage to airport terminals.

Calling it TOD is probably an overstatement; you're right that there's no transit service here that is of use to substantial numbers of commuters. Any office workers at this site would likely drive. That doesn't mean it can't attract office tenants.

In the longer run, CN is supposed to shift more of its trains to the EJ&E around Chicago, clearing the way for an airport express or at least increased NCS service. Nobody's really looking to do an airport express anymore but I'm sure that there is a fiscally responsible way to create one whenever the political will returns.

IIRC, the connection through the garage will be a pedestrian only corridor, fairly spacious, that will act as a pathway for all users (ATS, Rental, Private, METRA). Seems like it could be a lively space with so much foot traffic.

Lol :tup: You're welcome.

Maybe the inside will be OK but an atrium wrapped around parking darks doesn't leave much room to create pleasant aesthetic design that such an intermodal station deserves........

I also see future building use more oriented towards a hotel. I just think that is a much better use where you could have more terminal to front lobby hotels other then the Hilton O'Hare. During the winter it something that I think some travelers who are stuck on layovers or canceled flights will appreciate.

:)

Actually, not to once again be complaining about b.s. in architect renders, but most of the render's "office towers" do not exist - it's mostly small residential structures (though there are also several office buildings), and the person who made the render took liberties... Anyway your main point about office TOD is of course very true.
This is huge because for the first time in a half century there would be a new hotel accessible from the terminals that does not require using a taxi or shuttle bus. And, also for the first time, the City of Chicago would enjoy the hotel taxes, since I believe this area is not on the Rosemont side of the line. However, the O'Hare Hilton has always had some kind of exclusive right to lodging facilities at O'Hare - does anyone know whether this right applies to just the terminal areas, or to some slightly broader area?

Yes and no. The office towers in the left half of the background are very real (Rosemont's O'Hare International Center and Des Plaines' 1700 Higgins Centre).

The right half of the background is a residential neighborhood with a mix of multi-family and single-family. The heights are exaggerated probably because the renderer was sloppy or he cribbed inaccurate buildings from Google Earth.

I wonder to what extent this area will grow with airport/airline workers? Having a direct and free connection to the airport within walking distance of apartments is pretty attractive. Cumberland filled up with multi-family for the same reason. At any rate, it's a good reason to start planning some kind of TOD with moderate density. Heights will be limited on some sites because of the 9C-27C RPZ.

Add another 747 8F cargo operator at ORD, Air Bridge Cargo. I see no reason LH would have problems at ORD other than with the jetbridges being used. When they brought the A380 in on a demo flight it went straight in off 4L into T5 with no problem. The cargo 747 8F is also longer than an A380.



You can add the new Etihad 747 8 freighter to the list of 747 8 operations at ORD. It started coming in last month.

Yes, I still hear a rumors lately. Emirates is considering ORD service sometime in the future. I think it will operated 77W aircraft. I think they have enough the gate space available. Terminal 5 is getting more extremely overcrowded. I think they will arrived in ORD at 8am, but the immigrations & customs is not too busy during early morning.

Lufthansa is testing the 747-8i on one of their flights today to see how the airport can handle it and demonstrate it to the FAA. I believe this is the first time a passenger-full 747-8i will be flying into ORD. Two more test flights are planned for next month.

747-8 is one of my favorite planes. It looks like it just belongs in the sky. Where is the flight coming in from?

I totally agree.

It's coming from Frankfurt.

How was it? Any photos?

I caught the landing it was really cool seeing the 747-8i come in. Hopefully we start seeing it more soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWYebUijFJw

Nice! Couldn't have been a better day for it.

Beautiful aircraft! I love when people like you come out of the woodwork and contribute something concise and interesting like this! Thanks!

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What'e even more important is O'hare is gaining on the international and cargo traffic with other North American cities. I will predict ORD will move up a spot in US Cargo rankings within the next 2 years. If you compare ORD to ATL, the amount of international carriers at ORD is alot higher. I think ATL has around 10 carriers compaired to ORD with over 30. Also alot more people flying to ORD stay in Chicago. ATL has a much higher connection percent wich makes sense as Atlanta metro is around half the size of Chicagoland. The Delta operations is amazing at ATL, something other airlines should and will try to copy.

Bring the title back! My current company moved here due to the flight availability to remote locations and international connections. This is the same reason why Coeur Mining moved here earlier this year. O'Hare is Rahm's strongest asset to pull more international companies to Chicago for North American HQs.